At Least One Unicorn Existed, Say North Korean Researchers

The Korean Central News Agency of DPRK asserts that at least one unicorn existed. That unicorn was the unicorn ridden “by King Tongmyong [58 B.C.E.-19 B.C.E], founder of the Koguryo Kingdom (B.C. 277-A.D. 668).”

The central point of the news story is to report that archaeologists from the History Institute of the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) Academy of Social Sciences have reconfirmed that an area marked with the words “Unicorn Lair” in Pyongyang was actually the lair of the Tongmyong’s unicorn. The article simply takes as a given that the man truly rode a unicorn. The only matter at hand is to allay any fears that the unicorn’s lair was not located in North Korea’s capital Pyongyang.

A quote from Jo Hui Sung, director of the History Institute, confirms both the existence of the unicorn and its location. Sung states:

Korea's history books deal with the unicorn, considered to be ridden by King Tongmyong, and its lair. The Sogyong (Pyongyang) chapter of the old book 'Koryo History' (geographical book), said: Ulmil Pavilion is on the top of Mt. Kumsu, with Yongmyong Temple, one of Pyongyang's eight scenic spots, beneath it. The temple served as a relief palace for King Tongmyong, in which there is the lair of his unicorn. The old book 'Sinjungdonggukyojisungnam' (Revised Handbook of Korean Geography) compiled in the 16th century wrote that there is a lair west of Pubyok Pavilion in Mt. Kumsu. The discovery of the unicorn lair, associated with legend about King Tongmyong, proves that Pyongyang was a capital city of Ancient Korea as well as Koguryo Kingdom.l Pyongyang.

While the existence of unicorns was first recorded in Greek books of natural history in the 4th century B.C., those suckers have been hard to come by in the 21st century outside of media in the fantasy genre. And while it may seem a bit cynical to some, there are a few minor points that could take away from this article’s veracity.

First, Tongmyong (or Dongmyeong) established the first capital city of the Koguryo (or Goguryeo) kingdom in Jolbon in 37 B.C.E. Pyongyang was ruled by the Chinese commandery Lelang until the Koguryo kingdom conquered it in 313 C.E. Pyongyang was neither a capital city nor a Koguryo city during Tongmyong’s lifetime. It’s unlikely that he would stable his unicorn there.

Second, North Korea has claimed some questionable things about past leaders. For instance, Kim Jong Il is reported to have begun walking at three weeks old and talking at eight weeks. It is also said that Mr. Kim wrote 1,500 books in just three years and hit 11 holes-in-one on his first ever round of golf.

The final and most damning point of all, unicorns have never existed. As painful as it is to admit that, the best course of action is to just come to terms with the fact that unicorns are mythical creatures. Afterwards, the healing can begin.

Want to dispute this claim? Tell me about your experiences with unicorns.